U.S. patent application number 10/415901 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-08 for packaging unit for the storage and dispensing of liquids, fluid and ductile materials.
Invention is credited to Weiperth, Vilmos.
Application Number | 20040065691 10/415901 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10973898 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040065691 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weiperth, Vilmos |
April 8, 2004 |
Packaging unit for the storage and dispensing of liquids, fluid and
ductile materials
Abstract
A packaging unit has a cartridge for storing material and
pressurized gas operating with it and a dispensing head connected
to the cartridge. A sliding piston is positioned in the internal
space of the cartridge, the piston divides the internal space into
a product chamber and a pressurized gas chamber that have a
gas-tight seal between them. A plug is fitted into the pressurized
gas chamber end of the cartridge and a valve to the product chamber
end, the valve has a valve house, a valve stem, and a disc spring
with plate segments. The valve stem has a discharge opening at the
end coming out of the cartridge, the end in the product chamber of
the cartridge has a conical surface, the plate segments of the disc
spring are pushed up against the conical surface of the valve stem,
while the disc spring is snapped onto the valve house.
Inventors: |
Weiperth, Vilmos; (Vasvari
Pal, HU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Family ID: |
10973898 |
Appl. No.: |
10/415901 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
October 27, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/HU01/00104 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/389 ;
222/402.15; 222/402.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/64 20130101;
B65D 83/202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/389 ;
222/402.15; 222/402.24 |
International
Class: |
B65D 083/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 3, 2000 |
HU |
P 0004261 |
Claims
1. Packaging unit for the storage and dispensing of liquids, fluid
and ductile materials which has a cartridge (2) for storing the
material to be stored and the pressurised gas operating with it and
a dispensing head (1) connected to the cartridge (2) characterised
by that there is a sliding piston (4) positioned in the internal
space of the cartridge (2), the piston (4) divides the internal
space of the cartridge (2) into a product chamber (3) and a
pressurised gas chamber (5) that have a gas-tight seal between
them, there is a plug (15) fitted into the pressurised gas chamber
(5) end of the cartridge (2) and a valve fitted to the product
chamber (3) end, the valve has a valve house (11), a valve stem
(12) that may be moved in the valve house (11), and, furthermore, a
disc spring (14) that has plate segments, the valve stem (12) has a
discharge opening at the end coming out of the cartridge (2), the
end in the product chamber (3) of the cartridge (2) has a conical
surface, the plate segments of the disc spring (14) are pushed up
against the conical surface of the valve stem (12), while the disc
spring (14) is snapped onto the valve house (11), there is at least
one 0-ring between the valve house (11) and the valve stem (12),
and a cartridge house (6) fixed to the outer mantle of the valve
house (11).
2. The packaging unit according to claim 1 characterised by that
between the dispensing head (1) and the cartridge (2) there are at
least three connection element pairs assembled from a tapered
profile (17) and a claw profile (18), the tapered profiles (17) and
the claw profiles (18) are tensioned towards one another with the
help of a rubber ring (9).
3. The packaging unit according to claim 1 characterised by that
the dispensing head (1) and the cartridge (2) are connected to each
other with a screw thread.
4. The packaging unit according to any of claims 1-3 characterised
by that the dispensing head is coupled with a dispenser house (10),
the dispenser house (10) contains a valve-opening lever (8) that
can be moved op a cross pin (7), the valve-opening lever (8) has an
internal bearing surface, and this bearing surface touches the
shoulder edge of the bearing surface (20) of the valve stem
(12).
5. The packaging unit according to any of claims 1-4 characterised
by that the dispensing head (1) is in the form of a mouth.
6. The packaging unit according to any of claims 1-5 characterised
by that the discharge pipe of the valve stem (12) contains an
atomiser insert (16) that helps material in the liquid state to get
out.
7. The packaging unit according to any of claims 1-5 characterised
by that the discharge pipe of the valve stem (12) has a free nozzle
that permits the flow of liquid and ductile material.
Description
[0001] The subject of the invention relates to a packaging system
in which "liquids" or "cream-like materials" may be pushed out of a
cartridge that is connected to a dispensing head, as a result of
the pressurised gas in the cartridge.
[0002] The dispensing head contains a valve-opening lever, and the
cartridge contains a valve mechanism on its connection side, and,
inside it, a product chamber and an elastic piston and pressurised
gas chamber. The dispensing head and the cartridges have the same
connection elements, which make it possible to quickly interchange
the cartridges containing the liquid and cream-like material. The
product that remains in the disconnected cartridge is stored there
until it is next used.
[0003] Numerous solutions are known for the packaging and
dispensing of small amounts of materials manufactured by the
chemical industry. The most widely used solution for the packaging
and atomisation of liquids is the conventional AEROSOL solution. At
the beginning of the 1980s in the scope of the "UN Environmental
Protection Program" the leading body of UNEP (United Nations
Environmental Program) ordered--for the protection of the ozone
layer that protects the atmosphere of our planet--the prohibition
of FREON gas products. Taking into consideration that in that time
AEROSOL products used FREON gas, the industry had to find another
solution. Henceforward the similar propane butane (PB) gas was
used. PB gas, as FREON gas before it--is used in carrier gas
atomisation systems. The essence of this is that both the liquid to
be sprayed out and the liquid PB gas--in other words the carrier
gas--are filled into the metal container at the same time. In the
container a proportion of the PB gas falls under the critical
pressure and due to this it goes into the gas state and so exerts
pressure on the top of the liquid and aids atomisation. While at
the same time the rest of the liquid PB gas in a liquid state forms
a mixture with the liquid, and on leaving the atomisation
opening--as a result of the reduction in pressure--it significantly
increases the quality of the atomisation. This system commonly
known as an AEROSOL system, in other words: carrier gas system
results in fine liquid atomisation. An advantage of this system is
that the pressure in the container--and due to this the quality of
the atomisation--is continuous, because the change of state of the
PB gas takes place at the permanent critical pressure. Its
disadvantage is that PB gas also flows out of the nozzle, which may
involve a danger of explosion in the immediate vicinity and it is
unhealthy if it comes into contact with the human body. It is also
important to mention that the container cannot be operated in an
upside down position.
[0004] The most commonly used method of dispensing creams is the
so-called "pump system". The essence of this is that the liquid
cream gets into the "antechamber" of a push-button valve, and when
the button is pushed down the ball valve at the bottom part of the
antechamber closes and so the small amount of cream in the
"antechamber" flows out, then when the push-button is released the
next portion is sucked up into the "antechamber". This "pump"
solution is also used with liquids, on the atomisation of small
amounts of liquids, with a very good degree of efficiency (e.g. in
the cosmetics industry). Its advantage is the repeated dispensing
of small amounts. Its disadvantage is that only creams with a very
low degree of thickness may be pumped out of it and that it may not
be operated whilst upside down.
[0005] In the following patent descriptions are presented that
related to the solution that forms the subject of the
application:
[0006] Pat. No. DE 2912670 contains a spray-bottle solution, in
which inside a container that forms a closed unit the liquid to be
sprayed out is contained in a film pipe closed at the bottom and
the upper edge of the pipe is fixed to the upper edge of the
container and also to the upper closing cover, which cover also
contains the atomising valve. The filling of the pressurised gas
takes place at the bottom part of the container. The solution is a
"pressurised gas" system, in which the pressurised gas exerts an
indirect effect on the liquid and when the valve is opened the
liquid is atomised. An advantage is that it may also be used when
upside down. As the film pipe shrinks a situation may occur when
the path of the liquid is blocked. Patent CH 672476 can be viewed
as being the same as the invention analysed above as regards its
structural form with the difference that the film sack contains
cream. The operation of the device according to the patent is also
similar to the previous one. On opening the valve the cream or
paste-like material flow out freely. In this case the blockage due
to the shrinkage of the film sack may occur more frequently.
[0007] U.S. Pat. description No. 5,065,900 contains a closed
system, metal spray container which is of the "pressurised gas"
type and the material dispensed is a liquid. Between the material
to be atomised and the pressurised gas there is a piston. The
pressurised gas exerts a force on the liquid indirectly through the
piston and when the valve is opened the liquid inside the metal
container is atomised. The advantage of the solution is that it may
also be used when upside down.
[0008] Patent No. HU 182 917 contains a container solution. The
liquid to be atomised is stored in a closed pipe and the
pressurised gas necessary for the atomisation is contained in a
cartridge connected to this. The liquid-pipe and the gas cartridge
form a packaging unit, and this is placed in a "container", or, hi
other words, an accepting device. After being placed inside the
contained forms a closed unit. At the bottom of the container there
is a piercing pin and by pressing it in the gas in the cartridge
flows out and with the piercing of the pipe the path of the liquid
becomes free. On pressing the atomisation valve the liquid is
atomised due to the effect of the pressurised gas. After the liquid
has been emptied only the pipe and cartridge unit needs to be
replaced. The complete unit may also be operated when upside down.
A disadvantage of it is that the pipe and cartridge unit may only
be replaced by carrying out several movements.
[0009] Pat. description No. DE 39 13 851 contains a "pump" solution
which is also presented at the beginning of this description with
the difference that the presented patent is suitable for the
dispensing of a larger amount of cream and is of a container
construction. The cream or paste-like material in the film sack
that is closed at the bottom is placed in the lower sheath part of
the container. The upper part containing the pump assembly is
screwed onto the lower part containing the film sack. By depressing
the push button on the upper structural unit the piston in the
upper structural unit gets into its lower position and by releasing
the push button the piston sucks up the cream-like material into
the antechamber. Following this, by depressing the push button
again the cream flows out of the dispensing opening. From this
point on the process is repeated. When the cream has run out only
the film sack filled with cream needs to be replaced. It is also
suitable for the spraying of liquids, in this case the whole upper
part needs to be replaced, the structural part of which now has an
atomisation assembly. The packaging device may also be operated
while upside down. Its disadvantage is that it is structurally made
up of numerous components and so its manufacture is costly.
[0010] From the analysis of the above inventions it maybe
determined that the dispensing openings of the containers are
constructed in accordance with the character of the given material
(liquid or cream), in other words it is not possible to dispense
both liquid and cream-like material from devices of the same
construction. Even with the last German patent it is only possible
to spray out or dispense liquid and cream if significant structural
changes are made.
[0011] Due to the disadvantages of the solutions presented the task
presents itself to create a packaging system from which both
"liquids" and "cream-like materials" can be atomised or dispensed,
that can be used in any position and, furthermore, that pushes out
all of the "product" in the container and that is of a simple
construction.
[0012] The packaging system according tot he invention solves the
task by separating the dispensing unit and the container (or
cartridge) containing the "product" and "pressurised gas" and so it
may be ensured that both the "liquid" and the "cream-like material"
can be dispensed. Furthermore, between the "product" and the
pressurised gas" in the container (or cartridge) there is an
elastic piston, and through this the device may be operated in any
position and the elastic piston is formed in such a way that the
"product" in the container is entirely dispensed. The packaging
system is of a simple construction.
[0013] The interpretation of the collective nouns used in the
description:
1 Liquids, paints General name: "liquids" Liquid materials and
ductile materials, General name: "cream- (e.g. cream, jelly,
emulsion, paste, etc.) like materials" For foodstuffs General name:
"foodstuffs" (e.g. liquids, creams, pulpy materials, etc.) Liquids,
creamy materials, foodstuffs General name: "products"
[0014] The recommended minimum internal pressure values for the
"products" of different consistency in the cartridges:
2 For the atomisation of "liquids": 5-7 bar For the dispensing of
"cream-like materials": 0.3-2.2 bar For the dispensing of
"foodstuffs": 0.2-0.8 bar
[0015] It is practical to determine the ratio of the size of the
"product chamber" and the "pressurised gas" chamber in the filled
cartridge at 5:1. It is practical to determine the filling pressure
in the cartridge while observing the recommended minimum pressure
value.
[0016] The packaging system according to the invention consists of
two main parts; the dispensing head and the cartridges that may be
connected to it. The cartridges--in the connection side--have a
built-in valve and its internal space contains the "product" to be
dispensed and the "pressurised gas". The dispensing head and the
cartridges have the same connection elements, where on connection
the profiles fit each other and are fixed with a snap due to that
the end face part of the valve house is a double cone and its
surface finishes at an edge, which edge is pushed into the rubber
ring inside the dispenser house, and this exerts a springing
effect.
[0017] A construction form of the packaging system is when the
dispensing head has a valve-opening level, and the cartridge has a
valve, "liquid" inside it, a piston and pressurised gas, and both
of them have the same connection elements. On its connection side
the cartridge has a valve stem a part of which sticks out--which is
practical to call a discharge pipe--and in the beginning of which
the spin chamber atomiser insert is clicked. On the internal end
face of the spin chamber atomiser insert there are 3-4 tangentially
positioned grooves, and in the middle there is an atomiser bore. On
a further part of the valve stem there is a shoulder formation and
it is on this that the valve-opening lever rests after connection.
On a further part of the valve stem there is a "O" ring in a
groove. After this again there is a shoulder formation with an "0"
ring, and this rests in the valve seat of the valve body on
closing. There are cross-directional bores or cross-directional
grooves between the two "0" rings on the valve stem from which an
axial gap or bore hole runs to the discharge pipe. The valve stem
ends in a 90.degree. cone. A plastic disc spring is attached to
this cone, and on the end face of this spring there are gaps and
the gaps start out from the central part and the plate segments
that are formed in this way exert a spring effect when the valve
stem is moved axiatty. The plastic disc spring is snapped onto the
seat made for it on the valve htfuse. Inside the valve house there
is an axial bore hole and a valve seat formed on it which are
connected to the valve stem and the "O" rings on the valve stem
ensure the seal.
[0018] On the external cylindrical surface of the valve house there
are groove formations. The cartridge house that is made, in a
practical case, using the cold extraction method is connected to
this section of the valve house. The cartridge house is fixed onto
the valve house with burnishing and flanging after the piston has
been placed and the liquid filled in the cartridge house. The
piston in the cartridge house is of soft plastic and is made with a
thin wall in the sealing section. In this section, on the external
mantle there are two or more edge-like formations and the `tips of
these ring edges--due to the effect of the pressurised gas in the
cartridge--stick to the internal cylinder surface of the cartridge
house and ensure the appropriate seal. The filling up of the
cartridge with pressurised gas takes place through the narrow bore
hole in the lower part of the cartridge. After filling it is closed
using a small plastic plug.
[0019] In a different construction example of the packaging system
the dispensing head has a valve-opening lever, the cartridges have
a valve, "cream-like material" inside them, a piston and
pressurised gas. In this case also the dispensing head is
completely identical, as is the structural formation of the
cartridge, or rather there is a slight change that results in a
favourable function-effect from the point of view of the
"cream-like material" as compared to the "liquid" cartridge. Such a
change is that with the depressing and releasing of the
valve-opening lever a small amount of product may be dispensed from
the cartridge, and if the lever is half depressed the flow of
product is continuous. The dispensing of small amounts of product
can be achieved by applying a shoulder formation at the 90.degree.
part of the valve stem, which shoulder--when the valve-opening
lever is depressed--hits against the internal surface of the
plastic disc spring and due to this the flow path of the cream-like
material is blocked. The bore hole of the valve stem--at the
discharge pipe end is completely open, and ensures free flow. The
other aspect that results in a favourable effect is that due to the
lower internal pressure the cartridge house may also be made of
transparent plastic and, if necessary, may be marked in
"millilitres (ml)". The filling takes place in the same way, first
the piston is placed in the plastic cartridge house, then the
filling of the cream-like material follows, and finally, following
filling with pressurised gas the filling opening is closed by
plastic welding.
[0020] Another construction form of the packaging system is when it
is used for "foodstuffs" materials. In this case the dispensing
head is in the "form of a mouth" and can be slipped onto the
beginning of the food-cartridge easily. In this arrangement the
shoulder part of the valve stem hits up against the internal
surface of the dispensing head, then on the further part of the
valve stem there is an "O" ring seal and this is followed by a
slightly conical part. This conical part ensures the sealing when
the valve is closed. There are bore holes in the slightly conical
part which are at right angles to the axial direction and these run
into a blind hole, which bore hole runs axially through the
discharge pipe. In this case also the valve stem ends in a
90.degree. cone, the tip of which points in the direction of the
food chamber. The segment plates that ensure the closing of the
valve lie on the 90.degree. cone. The plastic disc spring is
snapped onto the groove in the part of the valve house that sticks
out. The valve house is connected to the transparent plastic
cartridge house and afterwards it is closed using plastic welding.
When it is filled first the elastic piston is fitted in then comes
the foodstuff. This is followed by filling with pressurised gas and
the filling opening is then closed using plastic welding.
[0021] The packaging system according to the invention is presented
using the examples outlined in the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 The dispensing head and the cartridge are shown in a
disconnected state. The cartridge is filled with "liquid". The
dispensing head is shown in cross section and the cartridge is
shown in half cross section.
[0023] FIG. 2 The dispensing head and the cartridge are depicted
connected, in cross section. The cartridge is filled up with
"liquid".
[0024] FIG. 3 The dispensing head and cartridge are shown
disconnected. The cartridge is filled with "cream-like material.
The dispensing head is shown in cross section and the cartridge is
shown longitudinally. (The cartridge is transparent plastic.)
[0025] FIG. 4 The dispensing head and the cartridge are depicted
connected, in cross section. The cartridge is filled up with
"cream-like material".
[0026] FIG. 5 The mouth formed dispensing head and the cartridge
are shown connected, in cross section. The cartridge is filled with
"foodstuff".
[0027] The main characteristic of the packaging system according to
the invention is that it contains two separate units, the
dispensing head 1 and the cartridges 2--which usually contain
chemical industry products--that can be connected to it, the
cartridges 2 have a valve built into them at the beginning, and
inside it there is a product chamber 3, a piston 4 and a
pressurised gas chamber 5. The dispensing head 1 and the cartridges
2 that may be connected to it have the same connection elements,
which make it possible to quickly interchange the cartridges 2
containing the liquid and cream-like material and after the
cartridge 2 has been disconnected the remaining liquid or cream is
stored until its next use. On connecting through its central hole
the dispensing head 1 is slipped onto the end of the valve stem 12
extending from the cartridge 2, at this time the conical edge
formation on the valve house 11 end face is pushed into the rubber
ring 9 that is inside the dispensing head 1, after this while
rotating the cartridge the profile pair--of tapered profiles 17 and
claw profiles 18--consisting of 3-4 elements fits together in such
a way that the claw profiles 18 slip onto the tapered profiles 17
and progressing further the claw profiles 18 snap into the radial
groove of the tapered profiles 17 as a result of the springing
effect of the rubber ring 9. On disconnection on twisting the
cartridge 2 it separates from the dispensing head 1. When
connecting the opening and closing may take place in both
directions of rotation.
[0028] The packaging system according to the invention is shown
disconnected in FIG. 1 and connected in FIG. 2, in which case the
product chamber 3 contains liquid and consists of the following
elements: dispensing head 1, valve-opening lever 8 that moves on a
cross pin 7, and the cartridge 2, which has a built-in valve and
has liquid, a piston 4 and pressurised gas 5 inside it. After the
dispensing head 1 and the cartridge 2 have been connected while the
valve-opening lever 8 is being depressed its internal surface lies
up against the bearing surface 20 of the valve stem 12, then the
valve stem 12 moves in the axial direction and leaves the valve
seat of the valve house 11 and through this there is a free path
thorough which the liquid can pass. The pressurised gas 5 through
the piston 4 exerts pressure on the liquid and due to this the
liquid avoids the conical part of the valve stem 12 and gets into
the atomisation chamber through the axial part, where it gets into
the internal tangential grooves of the atomiser insert 16 and takes
on spin energy, and after leaving the atomisation opening the
liquid forms a conical shape and is atomised. On releasing the
valve-opening lever 8 the disc spring 14 pushes valve stem 12 back
to its resting position in the valve seat.
[0029] FIGS. 3 and 4 also show the packaging system according to
the invention in a disconnected and connected arrangement, in this
case the product chamber 3 contains cream-like material and the
structural elements of these are a dispensing head 1, valve-opening
lever 8 that moves on a cross pin 7, and the cartridge 2, which has
a built-in valve and has cream-like material, a piston 4 and
pressurised gas 5 inside it. After the dispensing head 1 and the
cartridge 2 have been connected and after the valve-opening lever 8
has been depressed the valve stem 12 hits up against the inside
surface 21 of the plastic disc spring 14 and blocks the path of the
cream-like material in the cartridge 2 and by quickly releasing the
valve-opening lever 8 only a small amount of material flows out of
the discharge opening at the end of the valve stem 12. By
depressing the valve-opening lever 8 only halfway the flow of the
cream-like material is continuous. By completely releasing the
valve-opening lever 8 the plastic disc spring 14 pushes the valve
stem 12 back to its rest position. The cartridge house 6 may be
made of transparent plastic, with ml markings.
[0030] Another construction form of the packaging device according
to the invention is shown in FIG. 5, in which case the product
chamber 3 contains foodstuff and consists of a mouth-shaped
dispensing head and a cartridge 2, inside which there is foodstuff,
a piston 4 and pressurised gas--at a low pressure. When using it
first the closing cap has to be removed and temporarily pushed onto
the end of the cartridge, then the mouth-shaped dispensing head is
easily slipped onto the extended part of the valve stem 12 and then
taking up the cartridge 2 into the hand, putting the dispensing
head 1 into the mouth and exerting pressure in the direction of the
cartridge 2, so opening the valve and then the foodstuff flows into
the mouth cavity through the discharge opening at the end of the
valve stem 12. On releasing the cartridge 2 the valve closes. The
dispensing head 1 does not come into contact with the "foodstuff"
in the cartridge. This example construction may be used to feed
bed-ridden patients and infants. In the latter case it is
recommended that the lever version of the valve opener be chosen
and the side of the transparent cartridge house be inscribed with a
scale so that the amount of food put into the infant's mouth can be
controlled.
[0031] Beside the novel design of the invention it contains new
construction elements which are not known consideration the present
state of the art. One of them is the use of the plastic disc
spring. This is contained in claim 1. Up till now steel springs
have been used in valves. The other new element is the use of
specially closing profiles in the case of connecting two parts.
This is contained in claim 2.
List of References
[0032] 1 dispensing head
[0033] 2 cartridge
[0034] 3 product chamber
[0035] 4 piston
[0036] 5 gas chamber
[0037] 6 cartridge house
[0038] 7 cross pin
[0039] 8 valve-opening lever
[0040] 9 rubber ring
[0041] 10 dispenser house
[0042] 11 valve house
[0043] 12 valve stem
[0044] 13 O-ring
[0045] 14 disc spring
[0046] 15 plug
[0047] 16 atomiser insert
[0048] 17 tapered profile
[0049] 18 claw profile
[0050] 19 plastic welding
[0051] 20 bearing surface
[0052] 21 inside surface
[0053] closing head
* * * * *